wentzell



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. W. 8: J. B. WENTZELL.

MOISTENING APPARATUS FOR CIGARS AND TOBAOGO. No. 273,205. PatentedFeb.2' 7 ,1883.'

Wfwesses Q d wen Z573 w/ M45. g 2 Z; 4 w

(No Model.) A 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

- W. W. 81 J. B. WENTZELL.

'MOISTENING APPARATUS FOROIGARS. AND TOBACCO, No. 273,205. Patented,Peb.' 27 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. WENTZELL AND JOHN B. WENTZELL, OF HARPEBS FERRY, WESTVIRGINIA.

MOlSTE-NING APPARATUS FOR CIGARS AND TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 273,205, datedFebruary 27, 1883.

Application filed September 22, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM IV. VVENT- ZELL and JOHN B. WENTZELL, ofHarpers Ferry, in the county of Jefferson and State of West Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MoisteningApparatus for Cigars and Tobacco; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,whichwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

This invention has relation to the class of tobacco-preservers in whichthe tobacco is maintained in a moist condition in the box.

The invention has forits object to gradually moisten tobaccoautomatically to such an extent as to preserve it in its naturalfreshness and flavor, and also to revivify tobacco which has lost itsflavor and freshness and add a considerable percentage to its value.

Heretofore tobacco and cigars have been treated by a moistenin g processby various means of more or less merit; but the cases embodying thesemeans were not provided with controlling and graduating devices forregulating the humidity or moisture of the tobacco or cigars beingtreated. With our invention we provide controlling means whereby thetobacco may be given any degree of moisture desired.

To this end our invention consists in certain means whereby moisture maybe supplied in suitable quantities to and diffused throughout a casingcontaining the tobacco, and in means for regulating the supply ofmoisture, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

It further consists in the combination of a cigar-case with atobacco-case with separate compartments, each communicating with afluid-reservoir, said fluid-reservoirs discharging into and operatingwith a large or main reservoir to keep the cigars and tobacco containedin their respective cases moist,the fluidreservoirs having suitableapertures for filling them with a fluid, the amount contained in Theadmission of moisture to the cigar-case is through valved tubesconnecting therewith from the larger or main reservoir, and any excessof fluid therein may be tapped therefrom by a suitable tapping device,shown at the bottom of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and totheletters of refer ence marked thereon, Figure 1 represents anelevation in perspective of our improved combined tobacco and cigarcase. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation, in section, through the entireapparatus and easing, showing one of the vapor-tubes partly in sectionand partly in dotted lines. These tubes f establish communicationbetween thereservoirG and cigar-case; Fig 3,atransverse section,onthelineyyof Fig. 2, through the case and apparatus, clearly illustratingthe communicating tubes or tlues between the lower finid-reservoir andthe cigarchamber above. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the shelves ofthe tobacco-receptacle. Fig. 5 is a plan view ot'one of the shelves ofcigarcase. Each of these shelves is provided with elongated slits. Fig.6 is a section oi one of the controlling-valves in an open position, andwhich forms an important feature of our invention, which will form thesubject-matter of a separate application.

In the drawingsthe same letters denotelike parts in all the figures.

A is the base-section of the apparatus, embodying the principal portionof our invention. B is the top section, constructed in the usual way,the former being much wider than the latter, and both being providedwith doors a b.

The lower portion of the base-section forms a ledge, 6, through which wepass the valveste'ms of our inlet-valves (Z.

In the base-section A we locate a series of fluid-chambers, 1'2 3 4,divided off from each other, which are supplied with liquid by means ofvalves or openings 0, and beneath these is a reservoir, G, into whichall the fluid-chambers may be emptied, or as many of them as we maydesire. The fluid-chambers 1,. 2, 3, and 4 are separated from thetobacco-compartments 5, 6, 7, and 8 by means of partitions I, andcommunicate with the said tobacco-compartment-s 5, 6, 7, and S by meansof openings 61, and the reservoir 0 communicates with cigar-compartmentD by means of tubes fff, which extend upward from the horizontalpartition c, which separates the compartments 1, 2, 3, and 4 from thereservoir 0. These tubes fare also provided with hand opening andclosing valves g g g for controlling the amount of moisture which it isdesired should be admitted into the cigar-compartment.

' The amount or degree of moisture of course can be graduated asoccasion may require; or the moisture may be cut off en tirely fromeither of the compartments, when found necessary, either by openingvalves 6, or by closing the valve 01- of that particular compartment anddrawing off the liquid therein; or the degree of moisture in each of thecompartments may be graduated at pleasureindependently of the others.

When it is desired to empty any one of the chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4, allthat is required to be done is to open its valve (1, when the fluid runsinto the reservoir 0 below. This fluid may be of any kind of flavorwhich will impart a pleasant flavor to the tobacco and cigars, and thusenhance their value. The fluid in the reservoir may be drawn off bymeans of cook it, and be again used in replenishing the fluid-chambers1, 2, 3, and 4, or either ot'them. This operation ot'emptying andrefilling may be repeated as long as there is any fluid in the reservoir0.

The spring compression-valve has on its stem a spring, i, whichordinarily keeps the valve cl to its seat in partition 0. The valve hasa guide-piece, J, secured to the lower side of the ledge e, whichmaintains the val ve-stem in a true position. The valve-stem 7c isprovided with a catch or catches for holding the valve open whendesired. It is evident that any suitable meansmay be employed forretaining the valve in an open position.

Each of the valves has surrounding it a perforated cage, M, which, whenthe fluid is drawn off from the chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4t, prevents anyparticles of tobaccoorothersediment from passing through with the fluidinto the reservoir G.

The object of perforating or slotting the shelves is to permit themoisture to be transmitted through them to the cigars from shelf toshelf throughout the entire casing.

The doors of the casing should be properly packed with rubber or othersuitable packing to prevent leakage of the moisture or admission of airto the chambers. We prefer to make the walls hollow for obvious reasons,and among others may be stated, as one, that the air in the hollow ofthe walls is a good non-conductor of heat or cold, thereby keeping thecontents of the chamber at an even temperature. It is evident that thestructure shown by Fig. 1 may be made in upper and lower sections, notonly for ready removal in the usual way, but because it often happensthat only the lower section or tobacco-moistener is required. In thiscase the tubesfff are not needed.

The structure may be built of one or more chambers, according to thedemands or necessities of the user.

Should it so happen that the tobacco in any one or more of thetobacco-compartments should get too damp or wet, the doors of such canbe opened and external air admitted without interfering with the processin the adjoiningcompartments. Thetobacco-compartments are preferablyconstructed to hold a box of tobacco in bulk of the. usual size, and theshelves to hold the usual cigar-boxes.

The entire structure is preferably lined with zinc; but any of themetals in common use may be employed for this purpose.

It must not be forgotten that the valves, with the exception of valves9, are all operated from the outside, and thus always accessible.

We are aware that it is not entirely new to keep cigars and tobaccomoist in suitable casings in certain manners, and such idea we do notbroadly claim.

Having thus described ourinvention and the means of carrying the sameinto effect, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let tersPatent, is-

1. An apparatus for moistening and preserving tobacco and cigars,consisting of the separate fluid-chambers, provided in their tops withinlets for the flavoring-liquid, and outletvalves in their bottoms fordrawing oif the liquid, in combination with separate and independenttobacco compartments provided with suitable apertures in the bottomsthereof for the admission of the moisture arising from the fluid,substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in an apparatus for ,moistening tobacco, ofseparated fluid-resen voirs, the series of separated tobacco chambers orcompartments, and the main reservoir, the communication between saidfluid-reservoirs and the main reservoir being arranged to be controlledby valves, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for treating tobacco and cigars with moisture, asdescribed, the combination of the upper or cigar-holding section and thelower or tobacco-holding section, consisting of the severalcompartments, with the fluid-reservoirs communicating respectively withthe tobacco-compartments, and the main reservoir communicating with thecigar-compartment by valve-controlled tubes, whereby the vapor arisingfrom the liquid in the main reservoir is conducted thereto and theamount of moisture increased or decreased at will, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. WENTZELL. JOHN B. WENTZELL.

Witnesses GEO. W. GRAHAM, G. N. SMITH.

